Extra court time helps Peters Twp.
When Tyler Fiely’s first season as head coach of the Peters Township boys volleyball team was canceled due to COVID-19, he came up with a unique way of keeping his kids active during the shutdown.
“We played sand volleyball from April through September on various sand courts in the South Hills,” Fiely said. “We played sometimes as many as four or five times a week. We even competed in the Northwest Pennsylvania Volleyball League, which is run by my friend Khalani Ah Wong, who has a complex of sand courts in Presque Isle.”
Some members of Fiely’s squad also played for his club team, the A-10 Volleyball Club.
“That’s how I got this job,” Fiely explained. “I had five or six Peters Township players on my club team. When the head coaching position opened, some of the parents recommended me for the job.”
The extra court time helped prepare Fiely’s squad for the 2021 season. Peters Township is off to a 3-0 start in Class 3A Section 1. The Indians have swept Baldwin, South Fayette and Bethel Park in their first three matches.
“I had really high expectations for this group,” said Fiely, when asked if he is surprised by the Indians’ impressive start. “So I’m not surprised. I’m really happy for them. They are playing the way they should be.”
Peters Township’s top player is Brian Sullivan, a 6-0 senior outside hitter.
“The biggest strength of our team is passing, and Brian is our best passer,” Fiely said. “He’s also our best hitter and server. He combined for 24 kills and 11 aces in our first two matches. He has a great volleyball IQ as a hitter.”
Ethan Cooper and Nathan Klein are splitting the setting duties. Cooper is a 6-0 senior who also plays on the right side when he rotates to the front row. Klein is a 6-0 sophomore.
“Ethan plays all six rotations,” Fiely said. “He’s a good right-side hitter who blocks well. He’s a good all-around player. Nathan does the setting when Ethan rotates to the front row. Both are doing a great job setting.”
Others who have played a part in Peters Township’s early success are Ed Josefoski, a 6-5 junior middle hitter, Tommy Bametzrieder, a 60 junior outside hitter, and Nathan Dummer, a 6-2 junior outside/middle hitter.
Peters Township has a full schedule this week. In addition to their win against Bethel Park Tuesday, the Indians have non-section matches against Penn Hills and PineRichland Wednesday and Thursday.
Peters Township is also hosting a six-team tournament Saturday. The other participants are Plum, North Hills, Pine-Richland, CanonMcMillan and Thomas Jefferson.
Trinity
Trinity is in a new section this year ... sort of.
“We’re back in Section 3, the section we used to be in,” said Hillers coach Larry Myers, now in his 14th season.
Trinity moved from Class 2A Section 3 to Section 1 in 2015 and spent the next five seasons in that section. The move back to Section 3 actually occurred last year, but the season was never held due to COVID-19.
“Section 1 has been the strongest of the Class 2A sections for quite a few years,” Myers said. “Our time in Section 1 was good for us. Our program had to grow up. We had to pick up our game.
“Coming back into this section we’re dealing with the same thing. Seton LaSalle, Thomas Jefferson and Bishop Canevin have good teams. We have to be ready to compete every night.”
Trinity got its first taste of Section 3 Tuesday with a 3-1 win against Bishop Canevin. The Hillers travel to Seton LaSalle Thursday night.
“Seton LaSalle is considered the top team in our section,” Myers said. “This match will give us a good sense of where we stand in the section.”
Trinity has three returning starters: Mike Dunn, a 6-3 senior middle/outside hitter; Tyler Ashmore, a 6-2 senior outside hitter; and Connor Roberts, a 6-1 junior setter.
“Mike has been a starter since his sophomore year,” Myers said. “We’ve used him on the outside and the middle. This year we’re using him in the middle.
“Connor started at rightside hitter for us as a sophomore, so this is his first year as a setter. Tyler is the only returning starter back at the same position.”
Trinity opened the season with a 3-0 non-section win against Moon March 29.
Butler
Butler is off to a 3-0 start, which has moved the Golden Tornado to No. 5 in the WPIAL Class 3A rankings. Butler recorded a 3-0 win against Latrobe in a non-section match on the opening night of the season, then posted a 3-0 win against North Hills in its Class 3A Section 2 opener six days later.
“Both matches were closer than the score indicated,” Butler coach Lew Liparulo said. “The sets were very close in each match, but it’s great to get off to a good start since both teams have very strong programs.”
Liparulo, now in his 28th season, wasn’t sure what to expect from his squad since practice time was limited.
“I only had 14 or 15 open gyms, some in November and some in February, due to the shutdowns,” Liparulo said. “We have a lot of raw talent, but not much experience playing together. Fortunately, we’re getting better each week.”
Butler recorded its third win Tuesday with a 3-1 upset of Shaler, which was ranked No. 4 last week.
“We play Shaler on Tuesday and North Allegheny on Thursday in section,” said Liparulo, prior to the Shaler match. “And Friday we play Erie McDowell. I will have a good idea of where we stand after this week.”
Liparulo has three returning starers: Cade Wheeler, a 63 senior outside hitter; Carson Stein, a 5-10 senior libero; and Kaleb Wojner, a 5-10 senior setter.
“Cade had 15 kills in our match against North Hills,” Liparulo said. “Kaleb was one of two setters in a 6-2 offense in 2019. Now he’s running a 5-1 offense for us. Carson is one of the top libero’s in the section.”